The first ascent of Store Skagastølstind was made by William Cecil Slingsby on 21 July 1876.

Store Skagastølstind and the mountaineering of the late 19th century in Norway is traditionally linked to the historical hotel Turtagrø.

He set out to ascend Storen in 1880 and successfully used the popular route that is now named after him to reach the summit.

[citation needed] His main claim was that Store Knutsholstind was at least as difficult as Storen, thus, must be regarded a first grade mountain.

Slingsby was approached by Marie Sønstenes, a woman who lived on farm near Store Knutsholstind, who claimed that she knew a straightforward route.